Cooling tower



March 2, 193?. D. J. COLLINS ET AL 2,

COOLING TOWER Filed Oct. 19, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l Q INVENTORS 7 BYDorms/J. 60/027;

ATTORNEY.

March 2, 1937. n. J. coLums ETVAL COOLING TOWER Filed Oct. 19, 1932 2Sheets-Sheet 2- Q k INVENTOR a flaox'e/JCd/ms BY mam/0' WP #444 ATTORNEY.20 It is a further. purpose 45 the ian P x aiti'on relative to anopening in Patented Mn. 2,, 1931 PATENT- orries;

a -.r .co,mmi ami'ximsmv.

assignoraY-by direct andf' mesne ty,1"Kans., assignments, to. ton-Salem,N. 0.,

Application October 19,

to cooling towers, and cooling water Our invention" relatesmoreparticularly to a tower for that has been used for refrigerantcondensing purposes in a reirigerating system, or for cooling water thathas been used to cool any other ,apparatusp It is apurpose of ourinvention to provide a device of the above mentioned character .withmeans for creating a spray of water in a do 10 ward direction, andacurrent of air traveling I the opposite direction in a zig-zag pathtoerg s. so that the air'will ater broken 'up into means to cool the same,means for abstracting any moisture I that passes through the; deviceso'that the loss ,or water, due to'the passing'ot moisture out oidevice, will be re drops by the spraying and to further provide thedischarge means of the timed to a minimum. 1'. x 7 "oi our invention toprovide 'a device of the above'mentioned (pharacter, which is soconstructed that, any oi" the parts thereof that might require attentioncan be readily reached for servicing without dismancooling means forcreating a draft air be removed"thereirom as a-unit, and to provide afloat chamber that has-means providing a water seal between the, sameand the main portion oi the reservoir, and to provide a door or saidonoatchamber so that access can be float and dealt valve through thedoor without in any way affecting the circulation of air through thetower. It is also a purpose ni our inventionto provide a fan motormounting such that and motor can be'readily; ace'd in poj 'e-stower to"m n current of air through'the opening into the tower, and can also bereadily removed'withpyt dismantling the tower so th t any adjust 5'0ment or re irs can be made thereto be necessary.

' "It is-"a iurther purpose oi our invention ,to provide avertic'allyelongated cooling tower made up of a. plurality oi sections, andto-provide 55 means for securing the sections together, .and

ejwhnli a com on 150mm- (Gian -111 come in contact with 1 j the towerbelow the spraying The vonly apparatus r members or.

i the air that wasn't. mi r Compan w or North cmmeans for sealing waterseal, any gaskets or other, sealingv means ing' sections oi the towersIt a particular pur pose '0:- our invention to provide means forcreattngeddies of air in the tower, comprising a deflector mounted above the taninside the tower to throw the air downwardly and air ilected laterallyand upwardly to create a whirl of our invention to prothejoint'betweenthe sections,

between the telescop vide means for creating such further eddies or I,in the ,upper means. water, broken up by means,-in drops and bring theair andwater into close contact, this being accomplished in addition tothe deflection" oi. the side of the tower to create a further eddy. Saidmeans preferably comprise inclined partition plates arranged in closetormation of air ortion oi hich also 'crosscurrents keep the maintaininga predetermined level of liquid in'a to i orni louvers in thetower andthese are 131'811 3 reservoir in thezlower'portionoi the tower. I erablyinclined in opp it directions to obtain .It'isaccordingly a purpbse o to invention to, theproper air'eddies in the tower. -Theneddies providenew and improved means ior mounting are particularlydesirable to obtaina thorough the spraying apparatus comprising a spray head; I mining oftheaair andwater to cause close conin such a manner that the-spray headand the tact between the same, and to break the water piping connectedtherewith inside the tower canup-inas fine a spray as possible, thusproviding a very efllcierffi'cooling means-tor the water.

It is another purpose oi our invention to pro vide means for eliminatingthe moisture from passes above the spraying means toward the outletiorthe air from the tower, as

to lose anysubstantiai quanwaterwhich is being circulated While, ofcourse all. the be eliminated from the air, the major portion thereofcan be eliminated and eventually will reach the reservoir from which it,is drawn'to be used in connection with there- -'irigeratin'g apparatus,or other means with which the water cooling preferably comprises a-shaped members-arranged in a plurality of rows with the members inadjoining rows arrangedin staggered relation, said inverted V-shapedmembers collectively forming a batfle, and being provided with dependingthe spraying air toward .one

inclined means is associated.

plurality cooling tower.

' upon which. v

' telescope within the section I I, that is, the ver- Y tical wallsthereof extend downwardly a substan-.-

- the member II and thewall l8 of themember l2.

.will appear as the Fig. 6, partly broken'aw'ay.

improved cooling tower, is somewhat larger in the normal level of thewater '55 rib portions from whichthe moisture is adapted of thereservoir through the I to drip ofl into the portion of the tower inwhich": the bottom edge of the wall l6; the eddies are created. 1 u An"anglemember 22' similar to the angle Other objects and advantages ofour invention member 22, is secur V description ofthedrawingstendsforwardly therefrom and has the hinges proceeds. We desire to have itunderstood, how- 29 secured thereto, which carry the cover mem ever,.that we do not intend to limitourselvesfs- I 7 to the. particulardetails ofstructure shown or r overlapping a flange 3| provided alongthe described;=.except as defined in the clainis. 'OD Edge a l I is nonecessary In the drawings: provide any seal between the cover member 30'Fig. 1 is a and the top faces of the angles 2| and-3|,as 0 there is awater seal between the float chamber Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional-viw'thereof, cer-'- 21 and the interior of the reservoir II abo've thetain parts being in. 'elevation, the section, being water therein. jtaken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3. Means is providedforreple'nishing the supply Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view throughthe o1 watern the reservoir l I when this-is necestower, takenat rightangles to'iFig; 2, being taken substantially onpthelineJ-i of Fig'. 2.

Fig. 4 is a face View of the fan motor mount- 1 ing bracket used. inconjunction with our l nproyed apparatus, I P v t L the position ofwhichFig. 5 is aplan view of said bracket. the float the Valve Fig. 6 is aside elevation thereof. 7 g -Fi'g- Us a section taken on'the line 1-1 ofk of the vertical wall 24, and which carries a float known manner, andclosing. when the liquid level Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view on:an enn n 6 the float 36 controlling t Valve larged cale, of th spray hd" conjunc 34 in such-a manner that the liquid level never t o w t ourii i p a reaches a minimum that is below the bottom Fig. 9 is a sectiontaken'on the line of edge the vertical wall IS, a q i 5881 being Fig. 8,and 7 thus always maintained between the float chem.-

j 10 1 fragmentary segflonal view on an n ber 21 and-the main portion ofthe reservoir H.

through spray head on the side wall ofthe tower. P ".ff h is onnectedReferring in detail to the drawings, our im-' means r Withdrawing theWater from ervoirto circulate the same, and is also provided with anoverflow pipe 38, which will prevent a top section l3, allof saidsections being made nyoverflow of the reservoir, due to iailure 01' ofsheekmetals The bottom-section ll may be the fiQat Valve to Operateprovidedwith angles l4 provided thereon for 'ofwatel m t cllfi with apump or other or reserve ,-.section ii, a central section l2, and

should the float valve the purpose of mounting the same t n miientany VI sired support. It-wiu be noted that the bottom P ttelescopicarrangement them section H, to I g the reservoir portion f $10118 H andi2 and the i'act that the lower edges horizontal dimensions than thesections l2 'and l3, and that the angle members 'l4'are so securedtothe-vertical walls'of the member II that the same project downwardlybelow the bottom l5 of the reservoir to space it ifrom any support thesame may be mounted. ,The made of such a size that it will; that n whichthe section II;

is provided between the section). the section |2 is slipped into tialdistance into thereservoir II and below f maintained .thereverticalwalls 40, 4|, in. .The Ivertical walls of the dicated by the numeralsl6, l1; I8 and I9, and it will be seen that the walls l6 l1,-'l8 and IQall member 39, saidan'gle members and 44 being extend downwardly towithin a short distance connected together by suitable fasteningelements of the bottom 15. 45 whichare preferably bolts. Each of thewalls 20 of the reservoir section II The-vertical wall l6, l1, 1 has anangle-2l thereon, and the wall II of the provided with a trough formingmember, which section I2 has an angle '22 thereon, whichare has avertically extending bottom flange an the fastening elements 23, whichare preferably ftically extending bolts. Thewall 24 of. the member IIand thewall IQ of the member I! are secured together in a similarmanner, as are also the wall 25'of The reservoir section. II extendsforwardly be-f stantial distance from the verticalwall I6 of. thesection II, thus providing a float chamber 21 bethe section]; islocated. tweemthe walls 24, 25, 26 and I6, which is inismade'water-tight; so

constant communication with the main portion therein, the trough formingmeans beingeither bottom edge 49 of each of to the wall l6 and ex-.

sary,comprising a water inlet pipe 32, which" has a flange 33 thereonsecured to the outer face valve 34 provided with an operating lever-1;35,

is controlled by means of reaches a predetermined high' point, in a well'I'hus, each of the walls l6, l1,'

This trough or channel that liquid will collect passage 28 under tmounting m;- t The float chamber 21 is provided with an outlet Y I toshut oif the simp y into the liquid in the reservoir II, no packing Ffor the join between the .sectionsll V spraying the face or theliquid,at an oblique lower end continuous or secured together atany Joints-thatmay be provided therein' 'in liquid-tight relation. and the flanges 48thereon being soldered or otherwise secured in liquid-tight relationwith the vertical' w s withwhich the same are con- ,Thus a liquid-tightseal is provided be- I! at the Joint between the same, and it, isunnecessary form of packing between the'sections "the. sa me slippedinto each other and bolted being .merely together at the flanges as andu.

Means-is provided for introducing a stream of air into the section II ofthe tower, saldmeans comprising afah 50 provided with aimotor 5i, and

I ll! is provided in the wall with the fan' 80 so that air is blown inthrough the opening 52 into the space within the section ii. The sectionis is provided with means for water-that is tocbe cooled by the toprovide any is aligning cooling tower into the same in a downward direction said means comprising a spray head 53, 'which'is mounted on'asuitable water pipe 6d, which is connected with a circulating watersupply pipe 56. Between the spray head 53 and the reservoir 1 I,suitable means is provided for-creating eddies in the 'air passinggenerally upwardly .in the tower and forkeeping the water divided upinto a drop-like form to contact between the air so that the heat willbe absorbed frorn'the water by the air in the passage of the waterandair through the; tower in opposite directions. Said means comprises' adeflector member 56, which has a flange ill" 56': cured to the wall 6;and a depending lip Ed at the clined lnwardly and downwardly H6 at a,pointab ve the opening spaced tromthewallit at the opening 52. theaetream'of air from the fan so striking the inclined portion b3 and'thelip es, causing. a lateral and current created by the fan to thus createa whirl or eddy'in the bottom of the. section it, which will strike thesurface of the liquid in the reservoir ii; causing from the wall theupper portion of the section i3, the tendency opposite the wall it,either after striking the surface of the liquid or without striking the,surangle', was to be 7 thrown again toward the central portion ofythe is o section i 2.'

In order to create a further the tower,'defl ecting means is provided,above the deflector 58, made in theform of louvers, comprising obliquelyextending sheet metal members ss, whichform inclined deflector plates orpar- 0 through which titi'ons that are closely spaced, the same beingmounted in fined position/in a frame made-up of a channel member ill.arrangedv in a rectangular form todlt within the section l2 so as to besecured face to face to the vertical walls 8.6, W,

in any other'n anner.

' lsand is by soldering or "The inclinednn's or deflector plates 58 arepro- 1 vlded with substantially horizontally v extendin of that aresecured to the bottom flange $2 of e channeled-frame 8, these beingspaced to provide slits between the adsoining members I9 at-theirloweredges, the upwardly passing current of will throw the upwardly passingstream of air laterally toward the wall i6, and the stream striking thewall and the wall 40 at an oblique angle will cause a further eddy inthetower These deflector members so thus.

r on operating in thereo't said deflector be being in as so as to be.

an upward deflection of the air current toward to strike the wall iteddy of the air in abovethe deflector made up of, the members II. .Themembers ll withthe-bottom flanges OI thereon alsoserve as means; fordistributing the wa from the spray head ot in other words,'keep thesame'broken up in drops so that a. more intimate co tact ,the air andthe water. break up any water, that strikes the same, drops, as well asserving at the ends thereof as means; for fastening the diagdnallyextending members" to the frame it.

Spaced a s bstantlal distance vertically from the water'distributing"air deflector member described above. is, similar deflector memberhaving the louvers' or inclined 'deflector'plates having the flanges v8!, thereon, these being mounted in a frame 80 just as are the members59, 'bu t, being inclined in the opposite directidn to thus throwv theupwardly passing current of air toward the wall" 4 l causing the wall atan obllqueangle, and providing a further eddy in the air passing upwardly ln th'e towenthe members 59 and theflanges 8| therethe same manneras the membersBQ and flanges ti of thelower distributing memberpreviously described.

Due tb the manner in which'the water and air 7 are brought into intimatecontact, the air passing above the spray head and in order toprevent'the loss of a'large amoun of water by discharge ofmoisture-laden air from the tower, suitable moisture eliminating: meansis provided. The moisture eliminating means ciimprises a channel frameso, similar to the frame as previously described and mounted in a thetower by connection with the walls ill, 42 and as in a similar manner tothat in which the 'frames Sb 0! the two distributor membersare securedto the vertical walls of the tower.

moistureeliminating means comprises a plurality wall its is providedwith an inclined lip portion $5, said lip portions converging, but beingspaced from each other in the bottom of each 02 members 68 are arrangedin two horizontal rows."

the members slightly overlapping a vertical direction and beingarranged'in stag: geredrelation so that the" lip portions 85 of theupper members 63 slightly overlap the lower members 63. Thus a pluralityof ink same to strike the of themembers 68, and each downwardly inclinedto provide a slotted opening 6B st will be moisture laden The clinedbaiile walls are formed by-the members 83.- r

and within each member that has inclined wall portions within which themo'isture-lader air is trapped, themoisture condensing on the inclinedwalls 64 and 85 and dripping oh the bottom edges-.0! the lips T65. Themoisture also will drip oi! the members 63 as the same passes in acircuitous path between the members 63; tha lower set of members 83tendingjto direct pockets in the upper members 93, and the alr passingoutwardly between thememb'ers it and intofthe space above the sametowardthe air out- 83 a? pocket is formed outer walls of the the air into the1 -01 thewalls of the members so and substantially 7 all of the moisturewill have collected on the membars 03 and have dropped off the same onlysminlmuin of moisture will'belost due to v so that 4 f h a passing outof the tower through the outlet conduit 88, which is shown as beingprovided in the ."wall 42. The top of the tower is closed byscrew-threadedmembers 1'8. Y Thebracket mem- 5 her 11 is provided with aplurality of thickened reinforcing flanges 99 18. Thus the motor ismounted in a readily acments "and thus remove the brackets 16 from 'theringilike member 1!. The forward vertical edge 80 of the bracket memberthe flange "to brace the same strain on the fastening elements 1 pleone-piece mounting for the fan motor is prosvided, whereby the fan canbe readily placed in position and-removed from the tower.

The spray head/53 istmade so cone-like downwardly directedspray'of'w'ater'in the-tower, and comprises a tubular member or a.nipple 8|, which is provided with suitable threads thereon to beconnected with the elbow 82', which is mounted on the pipe 54. Thenipple Bi ls pro- 40 vided with a flange "having a pair of upwardly andinwardly directed arms 84 thereon, which gonnect with a central block85, to which a concavo-convex sheet metal deflector plate is connectedin anysuitable manner,

water passing from the outlet 81 I 50. member 86; and will thus bedirected downwardly and laterally to createsa cone-like spray, which"sbstantiaily divides the Water up into' a drop efform. C

, 53 iii such 'a' manner that it can be" removed along with the pipecbnnection 54 s a 'unit from the said means comprising the interior ofthe tower,

thread, 88 thereon for connipple 55 having the nection'with apparatusthat the water has cooled,'and with a .long threaded portion l9,thereon,'which has the aco'uplingjil screw-threadedly receives apipeflange 9|, which has thefiateral'flange portion 92 thereof provided b fstream of air downwardly and laterally toward a with a plurality of boltholes therein. I I

- A ring-like member 93 is permanently-secured to the inner ffice of thevertical wall 40 in any suitable manner, as by means'of rivets 94, saidm ring-like member 93 serving as a reinforcement to the sheet metalwall-.40 and having a large open- ;ing 95 therein of substantiallmthesame size as the corresponding opening 96in the sheet metal wall 40;said opening being of smaller diameter 15 than the flange 9'2, and thering-like member a ti es a cover -tmember 69, which is secured theretoby bolting .to the top edges Si is mounted on bracket comj n also has aflange 1a thereon;

thereof slightly below the cenas the headed thereon adjacent the earssaid tower having an air 16 engages with' as to provide a J asbysoldering. f, 45 The concave face of the member 86 'is directed. enipplel'I, and the streamof a will strike 'sub- Means is provided formounting the spray head any suitable pipe leading from the v said chainconnected therewith to .connect the nipple 55 with the pipe 54'. Thethread 89 also.

considerably greateridiameter than the flange 92, said ringv-like'member 93 having screw-threaded openings Bltherein for receiving thbolts 98 that secure the flang s: to the ring- 1 like member-Q93, thu'ssecuring the nipple]! and 5 thereby the pipeitandthe spray head 53inflxed position in the tower. R I

In'case it is desired to for anypurpose, all that is necessary isunscrew "the "bolts 98 and unscrew the nipple 55 from the pipe withwhich it connects exteriorly :ot the tower, whereupon thepipe 54,"thevnipple II and A the spray head 53 can be withdrawn as aunit fromthetower, the "spray head if passingthrough the opening arid theopening. 86 readily, with only a slight tilt of the nipple 55 and pipe54 being necessary. Thus the spray head can be reached withoutdismantlingthe tower, as can also all other moving parts of the device.g v

remove the sp y liead Y What we claim,is: s 1. In a cooling tower of thecharacter described,

inlet opening spaced 7 fromthe bottom louvers above said, deflector, aspray head, directing a spraydownwardly toward said, louvera mounted in.'a vertically elongated eddy chamber in thebottori thereof, saidchamber reservoir at the bottom thereof members gabove i said ,lastmentioned deflector member upwardly inclined toward the" opposite meansfor spfaying'waten e e i pv t deflectors; 3. In a ;cooling' tower, avertically elongated eddy chamber in the bottom thereof; said chamberhavinga water reservoir at jthe bottom" therof I having means fordetermining the level of th'e vwater therein an air inlet openingin theside thereof 'near the top of 's'a'id wall of. said tower,

25' so I aovaoee spray head mounted wholly within said tower, a waterpipe leading to said spray head, said tower having an opening in theside wall thereof through which said head is adapted to be passed, saidpipe extending exteriorly of said tower,-a flange on said pipeexteriorly of said tower, a reinforcing ring fixed on the inner face ofsaid side wall having an opening therein through which said spray headmay be passed, said pipe extending beyond said in flange and ring bothinternally and externally of said tower, and means detachably connectingsaid flange and said ring, whereby said spray head and pipe areremovable from said tower as aunit.

5. In a cooling tower, a pair of vertically elon- 15 gated sectionsvertically adjoining, said sections having vertically extending walls,means connecting said sections together with said vertically extending.walls in. substantial alignment, and means providing a fluid-tightjoint between said 20 sections comprising a liquid seal for said jointon the inner faces of said vertical walls.

6. In a cooling tower, a-pair of vertically elongated telescopingsections, said sections having vertically extending walls, means forsecuring said sections in fixed vertically adjoining -relation to eachother with said vertically extending walls substantially in face. toface engagement, liquid spraying means in said tower, and means forsealing the joint between said sections com- 30 prising a liquidreceiving trough formed on the inner faces of the vertical walls of thelower of said sections and overlapping the lower edges of the verticalwalls of the upper of said sections. a 7. In a cooling tower, liquidspraying means, a liquid reservoir receiving said sprayed liquid, meansindependent of said spraying means for supplying liquid thereto, meansfor controlling the supply of liquid to said reservoir comprising 4 afloat chamber in communication with said reservoir, a float in saidchamber, and a float actuatedvalve, and means for forcing air into saidtower, said float chamber being provided with means for preventing airfrom passing from said.

45 tower into said float chamber.

8. In a cooling tower, liquid spraying means, a liquid reservoirreceiving said sprayed liquid, means independent of-saidspraying meansfor supplying liquid thereto, means for controlling 50 the supply ofliquid to said reservoir comprising a float chamber in communicationwith said reservoir, a float in said chamber, and a float actuatedvalve, said spraying means operating independent of said controlling,cans, and

5 means for forcing air' into said tower, said float chamber beingprovided with means for preventing air from passing from said tower intosaid float chamber, comprising a partition between said float chamberand said reservoirtextending 60 downwardly from the top of said floatchamber and terminating below the lowest liquid level maintained insaid'reservoir. v 9. In a cooling tower, liquid spraying means,

a liquid reservoir receiving said sprayed liquid,

65 means independent of said spraying means for supplying liquid to saidreservoir, means for controlling the supply of liquid to said reservoircomprising a float chamber in communication with said reservoir, a floatin said float chamber 70 and a float actuated valve, means for forcingair into said tower, said float chamber being provided with means forpreventing air from passing from said tower into said float chamber, and

a door leading into said float chamber to pro- 7 vide access to saidfloat.

10. In a sheet metal cooling tower having an opening in a side wallthereof, an angular spray head and a pipe leading to said spray head andextending'from said head continuously outwardly through said opening,and means externally 5 of said tower for detaehably connecting said pipeto said wall at said opening, said'pipe and said spray head beingremovable from said tower through said opening as a unit from theoutslde o thereof.

11. In a sheet metal cooling tower, an angular spray head 1 atedentirely within saidtower, and a pipe lea g uninterruptedly to saidspray head from-externally. of said tower, and means for mounting saidpipe and head in saidtower to permit removal thereof through an openingin a side wall of said tower as a unit, said opening being much largerthan said pipe to permit such removal, and said means normally closingsaid opening.

12. In a humidifier, means for breaking up water into particles whichmay be entrained'in and evaporated by an air current, a casingenclosingsaid means, a d providing passages-for entrant air and for eflluentmoisture-laden air, said casing comprising a plurality of separablemembers, and sealing means between adjacent separable members, saidsealing means comprising cups adapted to retain and to return to theinterior of said casing water draining into them from the casing wallsupon which moisture is deposited by the eiiiuent air.

13. In a humidifier, means for breaking up water into. particles whichmay beentrained in and evaporated by an air current, a casing enclosingsaid means and providing passages for entrant air and for eiiluentmoisture-laden air, said cas-' ing including two separable members, andsealing means between said members including a cup 40 on one of saidmembersand a lip on the other member and extending into said cup, saidcup adapted to retain and to return to the interior of said casing waterdraining into it from the casing walls upon which moisture'is depositedby the efliuent air. f

14. In a device of the character described, means for breaking up. waterinto particles which may be entrained in and evaporated by an aircurrent, a casing enclosing said means, and

. providing passagesfor entrant air and for effluent moisture-laden air,said casing comprising a plubetween adjacent separable members, saidsealing means comprising cups adapted to retain and to return to theinterior of said casing water draining into them from the casing wallsupon which moisture is deposited by the emuent air. 15. In a device ofthe character described, means for breaking up water into particleswhich 50 may be entrained in and evaporated by an air current, a casingenclosing said means and providing passages for entrant air and foreflluent moisture-laden air, said casing including twoseparable members,and-sealing means between said members including a cup on one of saidmembers and a lip on the other member andextending into said. cup, saidcup adapted to re-

